Sergio Aguero has offered a fascinating insight into how Manchester City's newest star, Rayan Cherki, is balancing his free-spirited flair with Pep Guardiola's famously demanding system.

The Argentine legend, who knows a thing or two about thriving under Guardiola, believes the young Frenchman has already transformed City into "a much better team" – even if his unpredictable style sometimes tests the manager's patience.

Cherki, who joined from Lyon last summer, has been one of the Premier League's most captivating performers this season. With 23 goal contributions in 46 appearances across all competitions, he's drawn comparisons to old-school playmakers who seem to be playing street football on the biggest stage.

"Rayan Cherki needs to be careful with the way he plays, but he makes Man City a better team," Aguero told Stake. "Obviously he's still missing some consistency, but he's a different player. He has impressive qualities. Hopefully he takes the next step."

The 24-year-old's natural instinct to take risks and try the unexpected has earned widespread admiration, but it also flies in the face of Guardiola's reputation for tactical discipline. Aguero's assessment is characteristically honest: "He plays in a very free way, without caring about anything, and that makes him different on the pitch. Knowing Pep, some of the things he does Pep probably doesn't like."

But here's the key twist – Guardiola has apparently learned to embrace Cherki's unique approach. "Pep has understood that this is his natural way of playing," Aguero added. "He doesn't do it to show off, he does it to beat the opponent."

In a lighter moment, Aguero revealed that his son has become a huge Cherki fan – so much so that it's "driving me crazy" asking for the Frenchman's shirt. It's a testament to how quickly the young star has captured imaginations at the Etihad.

For fans watching at home, Cherki represents everything exciting about modern football – a reminder that even in the most structured systems, individual brilliance can still shine through. And if Aguero's assessment is anything to go by, we might only be seeing the beginning of something special.